It’s time to update your mask, but beware of fake face shields – CBS Miami

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – With COVID cases at an all-time high, health experts say it’s time to upgrade your masks.

N95 respirators are used primarily in healthcare settings, and the KN95 masks you see for sale online are considered the gold standard because they filter out 95% of particles. “

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“They are recommended by the CDC to keep you safer,” said Judy Goldberg, who is wearing a KN95 mask for protection.

Goldberg and her friend Sharon Mehlman believe they are safer with an N95 mask. “It fits the face better with less openings,” says Goldberg.

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Generally, N95 refers to a mask that meets US standards while KN95 refers to a mask that meets Chinese standards although both are designed to do the same job of filtering.

There are many fake N95 masks on the market, and the CDC has published a few things you need to keep in mind when buying an N95 mask. Counterfeit masks will have no branding, sometimes typos, and no approval number or NIOSH branding.

NIOSH stands for National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.

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“I looked at a box to see where it was made. If you’re buying at a big box store, you can assume they’ve already done their due diligence,” said NSU professor Aarti Raja.